Agricultura familiar, água e programas públicos nos gerais: o caso da comunidade rural de Araçá, em Januária, Minas Gerais

Abstract

This article analyzes the consequences of water scarcity for family farmers in the semi - arid region of Minas Gerais, studying the case of Araçá community, located in the Peruaçu river valley, in the municipality of Januária. It used quantitative and qualitative methods, these through interviews with semi-structured script applied to the population. The results showed that the natural sources of water, mainly the river Peruaçu and the marsh, disappeared. Thus, the majority supply sources became the communal artesian well and the cisterns of plate that collected the water of the rain. To deal with the situation of relative scarcity, farmers have created rules and adaptations that limit agricultural and animal production. This scenario, which is certainly repeated in much of the Brazilian semi-arid region, reveals a critical situation of water scarcity; but also reveals creativity and management skills.